Man Utd Team News: LvG Confirms Huge Injury Boost Ahead Of Arsenal + Martial Update

Manchester United have been handed a major injury boost ahead of their huge Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking to ManUtd.com, Louis van Gaal has confirmed that goalkeeper David De Gea is expected to make his comeback after recovering from a minor knee injury.

The Spanish international suffered the injury during the warm-up before United’s Europa League first leg tie with Midtjylland eight days ago and Sergio Romero has filled-in over the past three matches.

However, De Gea has responded well to treatment and van Gaal has now confirmed that he expects his number one to be back between the sticks against Arsenal on Sunday.

In a potential double boost, United could also welcome back Chris Smalling after he missed the second leg against Midtjylland with a minor knock which he suffered after colliding with an advertising hoarding against Shrewsbury last Monday.

van Gaal says Smalling remains a doubt while he also gave an update on Anthony Martial after the striker pulled out of the game on Thursday with a tight hamstring.

It led to speculation that the Frenchman was certain to miss the Arsenal game but van Gaal has suggested he could yet make it as the injury isn’t as serious as first thought.

There was further positive news on Thursday as Marcos Rojo made his long-awaited comeback from a should injury while Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini are also closing in on making their first team returns.

van Gaal told the clubs website:

“I expect [David can return] because I saw the way he was today,”

“Chris is a question mark, but you never know,”

“I don’t know [if Martial can return] because it has happened before the match. I’ve talked with him. I have talked with the physiotherapist that already had control of him. I cannot say, but it is not as heavy as everybody thinks, but you never know.

“I’m very happy with Marcos that he played 10 or 15 minutes and how he showed already his form and shape, he was very good. But I have to build him up in the games and that’s not so easy, because he only had two training sessions with me. On the first day, he was with the second team and, on the second day, he was with us. So I take also a risk to do that, but I think that I have to do that now with 15 minutes and then 30 minutes and like that and I hope we can build him up.

“Valencia is also coming back and Fellaini too – in the month of March, a lot of players are coming back and then we have a strong selection again.”

It will be a major boost for United to have De Gea available to face Arsenal but we’ll have to wait and see whether Smalling and Martial will be passed fit. I’m sure van Gaal will give the pair every chance to prove their fitness as they are two key players for United with the likes of Phil Jones and Wayne Rooney out injured.